On Sunday, March 11, join the Santa Monica Conservancy in a special commemoration of architect Julia Morgan. Morgan was California’s first licensed woman architect who designed more than 700 projects in her five decades of practice, including collaborating with William Randolph Hearst on the Hearst Castle. Morgan was posthumously awarded the AIA’s highest honor, a Gold Medal, and her brilliant and pioneering work continues to gain public recognition. Attendees at the March 11 program will be able to learn more about this ground-breaking architect and tour the Beach House’s Morgan-designed guest house and pool, which comprise the historic core of the Beach House. Here’s more about the program:

Lecture by Karen McNeill, Ph.D. 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. the leading expert on Julia Morgan. Dr. McNeill is currently writing a biography of Julia Morgan, and has lectured extensively on Morgan’s work in the San Francisco Bay area.

Tour the Morgan-designed Guest House and pool from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. after the talk with docents from the Santa Monica Conservancy who will provide insights into Morgan’s life and pioneering work.

On Tuesday, March 20, the contemporary legacy of Julia Morgan will be explored in the event: Conversation with Women Working in Art, Design, Architecture, Activism and Civic Development from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

The conversation will be moderated by Sherry Hoffman, instructor at Otis and ArtCenter Colleges and co-founder of March Studio, a local architecture firm. The discussion brings together women who “break down walls” in their various practices. Here are the speakers:

Tanya Aguiñiga is a Los Angeles based artist/designer/artisan who was raised in Tijuana, Mexico. Aguiñiga is the founder and director of AMBOS (Art Made Between Opposite Sides), an ongoing series of artist interventions and commuter collaborations that address bi-national transition and identity in the US/Mexico border regions.

Elana Mann creates artwork that brings a greater consciousness to the listening and speaking we practice in everyday life. She is the co-founder, with artist Robby Herbst, of the curatorial project Chats About Change. Her projects have been covered by the Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, NPR, O Globo, El Pais, La Reuppublica and X-Tra Magazine, among others.

Garment designer Anna Telcs, creates work inspired by a desire to simplify and invigorate the fashion system.Anna has an ongoing body of artwork entitled The Dowsing that reflects the dichotomy between the vital origins of fashion and the issues created when designers lose touch of history and humanity in pursuit of ever-faster trends.

Architect Summer Vaughn serves as a Project Architect at March Studio. Her work communicates brand and design vision from concept through construction. Vaughn also serves on the City of Santa Monica Public Art Committee.

Urban planner Helen Leung is co-Executive Director of LA Más, a non-profit urban design organization that helps lower-income and underserved communities shape their future through policy and architecture. Leung serves on the Los Angeles East Area Planning Commission, the Community Advisory Board of Genesis LA, and the Board of the Elysian Valley Arts Collective.

The Annenberg Community Beach House is at 415 Pacific Coast Hwy. Parking is $3 per hour, $8 per day.

The Annenberg Community Beach House is wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant. For disability related accommodations, please call Guest Services at 310-458-4904. The Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach is operated by the City of Santa Monica. The Beach House is made possible by a generous gift from the Annenberg Foundation, at the direction of Wallis Annenberg, and in partnership with the City of Santa Monica and California State Parks. Additional funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.